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The U.S. and Israel began “major combat operations” in Iran over the weekend. 

What happened?
The coordinated strikes began just after 9:00 am local time Saturday, targeting political and military sites across the country (see strike map). Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei’s compound was destroyed, and President Trump confirmed Saturday afternoon that the 86-year-old who ruled Iran for 35 years was killed, along with 48 of “the people that make all the decisions.”

At least 201 people have died, including dozens of children at an all-girls elementary school; Iran blames the U.S./Israel, while Israel attributed it to a misfired Iranian missile. 

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard retaliated with strikes on U.S. bases across the region, including in Israel, Dubai, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia; three American servicemembers were killed and five “seriously wounded.”

Was this operation expected?
Yes and no.

The U.S. had been moving warships to the region for weeks and publicly threatened strikes, but ongoing negotiations for a diplomatic resolution made the timing unexpected. The Trump administration says Operation Epic Fury aims to cripple Iran’s military, eliminate its nuclear program, and crack the door for regime change (watch President Trump’s 8-minute address).

What are people saying?
The UN Secretary General condemned the U.S./Israeli operation for “undermining international peace and security,” while European leaders largely focused their criticism on Iran’s history of oppression and "indiscriminate" retaliatory strikes.

Stateside, some Democratic lawmakers called the strikes “illegal and unconstitutional” while Republicans largely backed the operation—though some in Trump’s base say it breaks his promise of “no new wars.”

Large crowds of Iranians reportedly celebrated in the streets of Tehran Saturday night, dancing and chanting “freedom, freedom.”

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PRAY WITH US
When our news feed fills with violence and chaos, we’re often swept into a spiral of anxieties. But believers have an anchor in Jesus, whose peace pierces the darkness now and will one day shatter it completely. Come to Him in faith.

Mighty God, You are never caught by surprise or overpowered. By Your overwhelming strength, work peace across the Middle East. Overcome evildoers; comfort those who are mourning; protect the vulnerable; strengthen those who will rebuild; and bring order from chaos so that Iran and its neighbors will taste and see the goodness of the One True King.

Former President Clinton testified on Friday that he “saw nothing that gave [him] pause” and “did nothing wrong” during his time with Jeffrey Epstein.

The House Oversight Committee pressed Clinton in a closed-door deposition over his repeated appearances in the files and an infamous hot tub photo with an unidentified Epstein victim. Clinton claimed he did not know the woman and said if he’d “had any inkling” of what Epstein was doing, he would’ve “turned him in” (watch his statement). Clinton also condemned the committee for subpoenaing his wife, insisting Hillary “had nothing to do with Jeffrey Epstein.”

Chairman Rep. Comer (R-KY) called the interview “very productive,” and lawmakers on both sides praised Clinton for his candor. 

Afterward, Democrats renewed calls for President Trump to testify, arguing the Clinton deposition sets a precedent to subpoena #47.

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RADIATE HOPE
Reactions to stories like this will vary wildly. As you listen to people process everything from despair to triumph, point them to a hope that runs deeper than any one person, institution, or outcome. 

"God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him. If we say, ‘We have fellowship with him,’ and yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 
1 John 1:5-7 (CSB) (read full passage)

Last year alone, Nigerian Christians saw 7,000 brothers and sisters lose their lives at the hands of the Islamist terror group Boko Haram.

And 12 million more have been displaced since the group’s reign began.

OneHope is bringing light to this violence and suffering, and they need your help. Their Bible resource programs are empowering local churches to share the hope of Christ with children and youth, despite persecution. 

BE DOERS
Join us in supporting OneHope’s mission to help the next generation of Nigerian believers know the peace and hope of Jesus. Every $1 donated touches the lives of three young people with the Good News.

The Pour Over is matching the first $4,000 given through this link.

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
Matthew 25:40 (CSB) (read full passage)

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Uncle Sam and Anthropic are feuding. The Pentagon accused the AI company of attempting to “veto” military decisions with too-restrictive terms of service, and declared Anthropic a “supply chain risk” (a designation typically reserved for foreign adversaries). Anthropic says it only prohibits fully autonomous weapons systems and mass surveillance on American citizens, and vowed to challenge the “risk” designation in court.

President Trump floated a "friendly takeover" of Cuba on Friday, saying Secretary of State Rubio is in talks with former Cuban leader Raúl Castro's grandson "at a very high level." Cuba is reeling from a U.S. fuel blockade that has disrupted Cuba’s access to water, and worsened shortages of food and medicine.

Luigi Mangione, accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in 2024, dodged death row. Federal prosecutors declined Friday to appeal a district judge’s ruling that declared Mangione’s stalking offense did not qualify as a “crime of violence”—what prosecutors must prove to pursue the death penalty. Magione, 27, still faces federal stalking charges and a separate state murder trial in June.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are in "open war" after days of back-and-forth strikes. Afghanistan struck Thursday, retaliating for last week’s Pakistani airstrikes that killed Afghan civilians. Pakistan fired back with strikes on Afghan cities, including the capital Kabul. Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring Pakistani Taliban militants and cozying up to rival India. Uncle Sam backed Pakistan's right to defend itself.

Berkshire Hathaway closed Warren Buffett’s final quarter as CEO with a thud. The conglomerate reported Q4 profits fell 30% due to weakness in its insurance operators, like Geico. Berkshire’s new CEO Greg Abel promised shareholders that he would uphold Buffett’s legacy of disciplined investing, pointing to their record $373B cash pile as an opportunity to make major strategic acquisitions.

Diving through the clouds...

Who’s Helping Us House Hunt
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